Serve As Unto Jesus: Living a Life of Service

Dec 07, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Choose daily to fear and serve the Lord.

When life pushes choices at every turn, you are called to intentionally fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; that choice shapes family culture and daily decisions. Making God the centerpiece—“as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”—means measuring invitations, calendars, and priorities against that declaration and refusing to tolerate lesser loyalties. This is not a one-off decision but a daily posture that guides how you live at home, at work, and in the marketplace. [01:06:12]

Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)
14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Reflection: What is one regular commitment (a weekly rhythm, a boundary with your schedule, or a household practice) you will change this week so that “we will serve the LORD” becomes concrete in your home?

Day 2: Humility modeled by Christ to inspire service.

Jesus’s descent from glory into humility shows that true service begins with surrendering status and reputation for the sake of others. When you let the mind of Christ shape you, serving becomes less about recognition and more about reflecting Jesus’ example of emptying and obedience even unto the cross. Practice asking, “How can I make myself small so others are lifted?” and let that guide your daily interactions and choices. [01:14:01]

Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection: Identify one situation this week where pride would naturally protect your image—what practical first step will you take to choose humility instead (a specific word, action, or attitude)?

Day 3: Serving others is serving Christ Himself.

When Jesus speaks of the least of these, He makes a direct identification: caring for people in need is caring for Him. Serving the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned is not optional charity but the way you tangibly honor Jesus and inherit His kingdom priorities. Let service be measured not by applause but by whether it meets real needs with compassion and presence. [01:26:58]

Matthew 25:31-46 (NKJV)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, nor did you clothe Me, nor visit Me sick, nor in prison. 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Reflection: Which one of the “least of these” (hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, imprisoned) is closest to where God has placed you right now, and what concrete act of compassion will you do for someone in that category this week?

Day 4: Serve one another through humble, practical acts.

Jesus washed feet to teach that service is practical, personal, and sometimes uncomfortable—but always necessary for the body of Christ. Serving isn’t glamorous; it’s the hands-on kindness you offer in restaurants, at work, and in the neighborhoods where you live, looking people in the eye and speaking God’s love. Commit to seeing small, everyday moments as God-appointed opportunities to demonstrate His love. [01:11:40]

John 13:1-17 (NKJV)
1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 And He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash my head and my hands also.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is entirely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Reflection: Name one small, practical act (a meal, a grocery run, a listening visit, a prepared care package) you will do this week to wash someone’s feet—how and when will you do it?

Day 5: Jesus came to serve and give life.

The model of Jesus is service that culminates in sacrificial love—the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. Serving others flows out of gratitude for what Christ has done and becomes the heartbeat of worship in daily life. Let your work, your family rhythms, and your spare moments be offerings done as unto Jesus, trusting He uses even small acts for eternal impact. [01:11:16]

Mark 10:45 (NKJV)
45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Reflection: Where in your weekly routine can you intentionally reframe a task (work assignment, household chore, parenting duty) to do it “as unto Jesus,” and what practical adjustment will you make to keep that reframing this week?

Sermon Summary

We began by declaring trust in God’s steady goodness. Not because life feels simple, but because He sustains, restores, forgives, and arrives right on time. I invited us to repent for the moments we called His faithfulness into question simply because our prayers weren’t answered our way or on our timeline. When pain tempts us to go numb and stop asking, He is not the customer-service line placing us on hold; He responds, and He has not failed. So we will ask again. We will pray, worship, fill up in His Word, and trust Him.

From there, I named how every life runs on values, whether we say them out loud or not. Values are core principles that guide us; they set the standard we measure our choices against. I shared our church’s seven values—refill, refresh, celebrate, authenticity, stewardship, generosity, and serve as unto Jesus—because these create guardrails for joy and faithfulness in real time. Refilling with God’s presence is daily, because life drains us daily. Sabbath is nonnegotiable even in busy seasons. We celebrate wins to keep heart and hope alive. We keep it real, steward everything (because it all belongs to God), give generously “just because,” and we serve as unto Jesus everywhere we go.

Serving is the center of this call. It’s not limited to church roles; it’s the way we live in classrooms, garages, hospitals, kitchens, and checkout lines. Every believer is called to full-time ministry, which means everything we do is done unto the Lord. Jesus is our model. He left heaven, took the form of a servant, washed feet, obeyed unto death, and loved to the point of laying down His life. That shows us serving is humility, obedience, love, and worship. And according to Matthew 25, when we serve the hungry, the sick, the stranger, and the imprisoned, we are serving Jesus Himself.

So we will lift our eyes and slow our pace enough to notice the opportunities right in front of us—like offering prayer to a server, helping someone with a heavy load, or blessing our city through care bags, foster outreach, and caroling. Let’s ask: Lord, how do You want to use me this week—at home, at work, at school? Whatever we do, we will do it as unto Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust God beyond unanswered prayers Trust grows when we name our disappointment and repent for calling God a failure. He sustains in the very spaces we thought He abandoned. Choosing trust is not denial; it is worship in the dark. Ask again—He is not placing you on hold. [37:58]
2. Name and live your true values Values are not slogans; they are the core principles that guide decisions when convenience pushes back. Decide what you will measure life against, and let that govern your calendar, budget, and habits. You become what you consistently tolerate—at home and in your heart. [48:17]
3. Every vocation is full-time ministry Calling is not confined to pulpits. Your classroom, clinic, counter, or workbench is an altar where God meets people through your work, words, and presence. Do all in Jesus’ name, and expect impact that outlives the moment. [1:07:27]
4. Serving forms humility, obedience, and love Jesus shows the way: He descended, obeyed, and poured Himself out. Pride seeks titles; love takes towels. Serving trains our hearts to choose God’s will over ours and to move toward people, not away, especially when it costs. [1:14:01]
5. Worship God by serving “the least” Heaven measures worship by love expressed toward the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. Don’t keep score; keep your eyes open. Interruptions often are assignments—opportunities to meet Jesus in hidden places. [1:26:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:30] - Declaring trust in God’s goodness
[43:17] - God is good and on time
[47:44] - Everyone has values
[51:35] - Refill: keep your tank full
[53:42] - Refresh: Sabbath in busy seasons
[56:28] - Celebrate and honor the moment
[58:51] - Authenticity: keep it real
[1:00:45] - Stewardship and generosity
[1:04:52] - Serve as unto Jesus
[1:06:12] - Choose whom you will serve (Joshua 24)
[1:12:25] - Jesus the servant: Philippians 2
[1:24:01] - Serving as worship: Sheep and goats
[1:32:23] - Worship without walls in practice
[1:47:04] - Serve opportunities and sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (NKJV)
- Joshua 24:14–15
Therefore, fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

- Philippians 2:5–11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

- Matthew 25:31–40
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and I visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

Observation questions

Read Joshua 24:14–15. What two choices are set before the people, and what practical difference would “serving the LORD in sincerity and truth” make in one’s daily schedule and decisions?
Read Philippians 2:5–11. What actions and attitudes of Jesus are named here that show how to serve? Which phrase stands out most to you?
The sermon defined values as “core principles that guide you.” Which of the seven values named (refill, refresh, celebrate, authenticity, stewardship, generosity, serve as unto Jesus) felt most obvious in your life this week, and which value felt weakest? ([51:21])
Read Matthew 25:31–40. List the specific needs the King identifies. Which of those needs are most visible in your neighborhood or workplace right now?

Interpretation questions

What does the phrase “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” imply about responsibility and daily decision-making in the believer’s life? How might that choice change routine priorities or calendar decisions? ([01:06:00])
How does the description of Jesus’ humility and obedience in Philippians 2 reshape the group’s understanding of what “serving” really costs a person (status, convenience, safety, comfort)? ([01:14:01])
The teaching urged Christians to treat every vocation as “full-time ministry.” In practical terms, what changes when someone views their job or school as an altar rather than merely a workplace? Consider examples from your own context. ([01:08:14])
Serving was said to be humility, obedience, love, and worship. When someone serves mainly for credit, recognition, or resume-hours, how does that alter the spiritual shape of the act? How can one guard against that motive? ([01:21:12])

Application questions

Trust beyond unanswered prayers: Name a prayer request you have allowed discouragement to stop you from asking about. Will you intentionally pray about it again this week? What will you say when you ask? ([45:57])
Live your values: Pick one of the seven values and identify one concrete change (in your calendar, budget, or habit) you will make this week to honor that value. Be specific about day/time or amount. ([51:21])
Refill and Sabbath: Which single day this coming week will you protect as Sabbath or a refill day? What are two specific activities you will stop doing and two spiritual practices you will do instead? ([53:52])
Serve where you already are: Identify one person at work, school, or in your apartment complex who could use a small act of service or prayer. Plan when and how you will reach out (help carry something, offer to pray, bring a small care item). ([01:07:53])
Serve the least: Choose one of the needs listed in Matthew 25 (hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, imprisoned). What practical step can you take this week to meet that need in your city (give a care bag, volunteer, visit, donate)? Set a day and plan. ([01:24:01])
Generosity “just because”: What is one “just because” gift or gesture you can prepare this week (extra sandwiches, care bag, small gift) that you will hand to a person who will likely never come to church? When will you do it and where? ([01:02:19])
Accountability for service: Who will you tell in this group about the service steps you plan to take this week so someone can follow up and encourage you next time you meet?

(Use this guide to read the passages together, share honestly, and make specific plans to follow Jesus by serving him in daily life.)

Sermon Clips

56s

#ServeWithHumility

“``Serving is an act of humility. I want you to think about this for a second. Where do you want to go? Listen, answer me. Talk back. You ready? Where do you want to go when you die? Me too? Jesus left there to come to this place. And by the way, it was thousands of years ago, in the desert, with no air conditioner, no running water, forget hot water, no plumbing, no Nikes, no cars. He left heaven to live here, the place that we're like, when we die here, we want to go there. That's humility.”

37s

#GodResponds

“Can I tell you something this morning? God ain't putting you on hold and it doesn't matter that more people are calling on his name that ever before he responds personally to each and every one of our calls and our prayers. And he will not leave you nor forsake you. And just because you didn't get what you were praying for and asking for does not change his goodness, his mercy and his steadfast love. So call on him. Call on him. He will respond.”

25s

#EverydayMinistry

“We've got this misconception in today's Christianity that full-time ministry means the person who is a pastor or works at a church or in a ministry full-time. That's not full-time ministry. Every single one of us as followers of God are called to be in full-time ministry. What does that mean? Everything we do is for him. Everything we do.”

36s

#SpiritualRefuel

“Do you know that the minute you leave the gas station, if you don't believe me, try this. Fill up your tank. Turn the car on. Drive around the block. Come back to the pump. And you'll be able to put more gas again. You know why? The minute you start driving, your engine starts consuming the fuel that you're putting in. And our spiritual tank, we need to refill it. We need to spend time with God. We need to spend time in the word to refill our spiritual tank. Because, bro, life is rough. It's hard. And the world out there ain't getting any better.”

31s

#StewardYourLife

“What does it mean to steward? Hey, as a steward, we realize it belongs to him. Everything is God's. We manage it. What do I mean by that? Your life is not your own. Neither is mine. It's God's, and we manage it. Our health, we steward. Our family, we steward. Our marriage, we steward. Our children, we steward. Our health, we steward. Those are things that we steward.”

43s

#MadeToServeGod

“What does it mean to serve? This is what it means to serve. Serve is to perform duties for another person or organization. Perform duties for another person or organization. Can I tell you something? We're all serving someone or something. Every single individual on this planet is serving. Many times we're serving self. How does this benefit me? How do I get something out of it? What am I doing? You're serving. You're just serving self, selfishness. Some of us, although we have been created to serve God, are serving many other things but God. And we're called to serve God.”

32s

#WorkIsWorship

“When you and I look at our occupation, whatever it is, it may be a teacher. It may be a grocery clerk. It may be a doctor or a nurse or a mechanic or a whatever. Never fill in the blank. When you look at it as an opportunity to serve God, everything changes. Because we don't serve God just in the church. We serve God outside because the church is not a building. The church is us, the body of believers.”

27s

#ChurchBeyondWalls

“So I've had a lot of people tell me, oh, I invite you to 3W Church. Oh, so what does 3W stand for? It means worship without walls. And this has happened to me so many times. So what does that mean? Do you guys not have a place? Do you guys meet outside? For real? Like, be honest. So you meet outside? And then I say, no, no, no. This is what you got to understand. We are the church. And we've got to take it outside the walls of the church.”

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